Launch of Heartbeat

(Still here) ...

Check it out. Tonight on Bravo Canada, Ledaserene Films launches Episode 1 of their Heartbeat series. Episode 1 features Master Drummer Muhtadi. It's the episode I helped work on when I was in TO earlier this year.

Congrats to the company and wishing a successful run of the series.

It was the Muhtadi experience that inspired me to purchase Dandelion when I was in TO ... and that in itself opened up so many wonderful worlds and experiences - meeting new friends, busking downtown to raise money for the Asian elephants, drum circles, classes, etc.

And even back here in TT, Dandelion exposed me to drum classes, stickfighters, tassa drummers and more.

Ironically, just this morning, I looked at her sitting in the corner of my room and thought: "I haven't drummed in ages!"

Time to bring Dandie out again.

Rest in Peace

(Source of photo: Mirvish)

Last night I dreamt a friend of mine had died. I have not seen her in years as she now lives in England. In the dream there was a large outdoor funeral, almost like a cocktail gala in a grand garden, with rich guests. It was very much like her. At some point I went to the front where there was a microphone and I asked to share something with the huge crowd. I was just going to talk about her ... but you know how dreams are. They just switch suddenly.

Suddenly I was up on a stage (still in the garden) and the shoes I had on (some shoes I had bought in TO) were making me dance. I had no control over them and the crowd seemed taken aback that I would be dancing so joyfully at a funeral. Without warning (even to myself), the shoes took me gliding and twirling and spinning all over the stage in the long red dress I had on. It felt great. Then I started to show a video which I had on a DVD. In the dream apparently she and I had shot a video one day of ourselves talking and laughing, etc. (things we would normally do) and it had never been seen by anyone. Not even me. The funeral was the first place at which anyone would see it and see her since her death.

Anyway ... the dream went on ... and (in real life now) I will see if the number I have for her in London is still valid and call her today.

Then this morning as I awoke, meditated and opened up my laptop, quite by chance I stumbled across some news ... I didn't realise that Honest Ed Mirvish had died! He passed away on July 11th. Wow ... I remember when I was in Honest Ed's one day (when last in TO) looking at all the photos of him, of the celebrities who knew and loved him, reading about all the amazing things he had done and given to others and marveling that he had lived so long and was still going. It was moving and inspiring. I remember thinking that the reason he had lived so long was because he must have had such a full life .. meaning-full, beauty-full, purpose-full, love-full. I can just imagine what a great, moving and no doubt fun celebration there will be for him on August 12th. Maybe there'll be a huge stage with people dancing in long red dresses and showing videos!

Read about his memorial.

*

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That dream plan again

Hmmm. A recurring message and/or desire. Last night's dream was clearly a continuation of yesterday's. For most of the dream I was in London, only it was Toronto, because my cousins and other people from Toronto were in the dream with me, living there. It was like having Toronto people in a London landscape.

When I was leaving Toronto/London, I went to the ticketing booth (check out) at the airport. The airport was one of those places that exists only in dreams and is familiar as a result of having been there a few times before. It has many levels and a lot of glass. I went up some levels and found the Asian girl who would be dealing with my tickets. She looked at my date of departure and said "You are not supposed to be leaving today. You have more time here."

But because the date that was on the ticket was in big red figures and was standing out, I had thought that it was my date of departure. I did not see the fine print. Nevertheless, I told her I would still leave on this plane. Someone (in real life) had been saying yesterday that 'everything happens for a reason' and that phrase came back to me in the dream as I stood in the dream airport. There happened to be a seat for me on that flight, so I left on the big red date, knowing that I had seen it that way for a valid reason.

I don't know why I keep dreaming London and Toronto together, but definitely things are happening on that (dream) plane. Maybe there's also something to do with London, ONtario?

Could also be because I have not yet put away my suitcase since returning from Toronto. It was against the wall in my room, then I had moved it to another spot and just a day or two ago I moved it to the centre of the room where it is sitting with a scarf and sweater on it, really just procrastinating about putting it on top of the upstairs cupboard where suitcases are. It looks like I am about to go again.

(Just realised the headline of this post is supposed to say: "That dream plane again", but I will leave the typo).

Traveling on the dream plane

This morning just before I woke up, I dreamt I was returning to Toronto. It was a very involved dream in which the people I dealt with were busy making the way easy for me. The people at the airline office were giving a range of prices for tickets. I was amazed at the cheap fare that was available - a special fixed rate of $200-something US (maybe it was one way?) which was hidden, but for some reason they had found it for me. Then there was a rate of $30,000 TT to go to either TO or London for a year. Of course I chose Toronto and they gave me the fixed rate of $200-something US for the year instead of the $30,000. It was a fortunate dream in which I spent a lot of time at the bank as well, preparing to depart. The woman in the bank was working with lots of data and transferring funds (I had a lot of money in the dream).

In the dream I felt purposeful and excited, eager to leave ... even though I didn't have anything 'fixed' to go to. This reminds me of the day I left my job in advertising 1999. I had 'nothing to go to' and I had not told anyone I was resigning (in case they had tried to dissuade me and put doubts in my mind). I wrote my resignation letter on the 7th of September so that my departure day (one month later) would be my birthday (7th October). I will always remember it as the best birthday gift I ever gave myself ... and one of the best decisions I ever made.

After leaving the bank in the dream, I woke up. My foot slid across the bed and bumped against something furry (Jasper, not a rat). I lay there for a while preparing to get out of bed and go through the motions of another day.

Sign

Sign on Leslie Street Spit, TO.

Thank you

(Canada Chronicles continued ...)

Walking along a street in Montreal I saw this piece of graffiti.

A few steps along the same street ...

A bit further up the same street ...

And voila! Just a little beyond.

*

I had no wireless access on Satya in Montreal, so didn't update the blog. Montreal was a good bridge between TO and TT, enabling me to separate from the former so I can return to the latter without feeling too sad about it. In fact, I am ready ... for what, I have no idea ... but I am ready.

Just got in about an hour or so ago and will be at the airport for 9:something p.m. to fly out at a little after midnight. Arriving in TT 6:05 a.m.

Thank you for an unforgettable time, Toronto. It definitely was worth every moment.

Wedding drums and Dandelions

Yesterday at the 8th Muhtadi International Drum Festival (M.I.D.F.) there was a wedding. Jakko Bakko (not sure if this is the spelling, but it's the phoenetic pronunciation) married his partner, Valerie. It was a powerful event, witnessed by their loved ones and hundreds of 'strangers' (the audience). The two had met 7 years ago at the M. I. D. F. and decided to have their wedding on stage at the festival all these years later. They were serenaded on drums by the Muhtadi World Drummers. It was a special treat to witness this moving ceremony.

According to Muhtadi, if anyone attending the festival meets their mate there, they have him to thank (... or did he say 'to blame'?).

At one point I was sitting on the grass in front of the stage and a single white dandelion seed came and hovered on the wind directly before me, almost as though saying: "Here I am!" So simple ... it felt amazing. I thought "Wow ..." (it was as if a wish had come to me, granted). I held out my hand and let it gently land in my palm where it stayed until I blew it.

Unfortunately I wasn't feeling too well so left early ... therefore missing the rest of that day's line-up. I was hoping to return today to take in a few acts before leaving for Montreal, but I think the day will be consumed largely with packing and making sure I'm not forgetting anything important:

Satya - check
Dandelion - check

When I got home last night and was playing Dandelion, my hands surprised me. They were flying all over Dandie's skin, very fluently playing impressive rhythms that (to me) seemed to come out of nowhere ... as if they had a life of their own. Even my cousin, who was there listening to me, noticed a difference. I told her that maybe I had picked up something during the short time I was at the drum festival. Then I remembered the little hovering dandelion seed ...

Dandelion, the brave Drum

(Canada Chronicles continued ...)

Today Dandelion and I will be going to The Muhtadi International Drum Festival. Yesterday I decided to name my drum Dandelion ... a name of dual significance.

In keeping with the dandelion as a flower, every time the drum is played, powerful vibrations will spread far and wide with positive results (reminiscent of a wish being made, the dandelion being blown and the seeds being dispersed).

The other aspect reflects the meaning behind the 'Lion" part of the name Dandelion. As power animals, Lions are active and fiery, icons of bravery, courage, strength, self-worth. The meanings of the Adinkra carvings on this particular drum echo this.

Kwatakye (or Gyawu) Atiko: bravery and valour

Pa Gya: to strike fire or make fire. (Said to be a symbol of war).

I say Dandelion is brave enough to go where guided ... striking/making the fires of Love ... starting world wars where the bombs being dropped are positive vibes and manifestations.

*

(I love this write-up about the Lion as a power animal):

Lions are perhaps the most social of the big cats, living in communities called prides. Within this unit, the females are the better hunters, working together to kill their prey. They are the primary caretakers of the young cubs, while the male protects the group from predators. All adults are affectionate toward the cubs, who live a playful and carefree existence.

One meaning of Lion, then, relates to family, cooperation, and community. Working with Lion medicine means understanding that one's well-being is based on being able to live and work in harmony with others, without sacrificing one's individuality. (Think of the lion's proud roar.)

We find the key to this balance between self and others in some of the widespread symbols for this feline. The lion is the astrological animal related to the sign of Leo, which rules the heart. Leo is ruled by the Sun, another symbol of Lion. As the sun provides us with life-giving warmth and light, so the warmth of an open heart provides comfort for all who are touched by it.

The French word for heart is coeur, the root word for courage. Courage comes from the heart and from one's deep sense of personal authority. When we have the courage to be true to ourselves, we have the power to act in ways that are in accord with our own spirit.

This is the true meaning of self-esteem, an honoring of oneself that bypasses false ways of gaining the illusion of self-esteem, such as comparing oneself to others and deflating their worth in order to inflate one's own value.

One who acts from a true sense of worth has a quality of self-appreciation that is inspiring and contagious. An individual who relates to others from the heart is capable of leadership, achievement, and the kind of success that encourages the accomplishments of others.

In ancient Egypt, a young lion symbolized the rising of the sun. So, in working with Lion medicine, we may experience the emergence of our own true, radiant selves.

Source

Starting to say goodbye

May all of the seeds I have blown into wishes
Take root and grow and bloom.

*

The last time I felt sad about leaving anywhere was when I left England in 1991 upon completion of my Masters. I cried as the plane took off and I left behind my friends and my life there. I feel this time it will be pretty much the same. Even though it has only been a little over a month, it feels like it's been ages. Whereas I had liked Toronto before, I feel like I have been falling in love with it this time around. My cousin Gene said to me the other night: "You know, you feel like you've been living here for 20 years!"

I will be leaving Toronto on Sunday night and going to Montreal for a few days, returning to TO on the night of the 6th, to head straight for the airport. Going to Montreal will be a transitional bridge between TO and TT ... like leaving, but not really leaving yet.

Even though these last few days are extremely packed (with both work and play), I can feel my energies winding down and becoming quiet.

More busks for tusks

Photo taken by Nancy at our busking location on Wednesday

(Canada Chronicles continued ...)

Yesterday (a few hours ago) we busked in the same spot on the corner of Yonge and whatever-street-that-is with the "World's Biggest Bookstore". This time we were joined by Mike and Rob from the drum class.

Warming up

Before we began Nancy laid out the elephant booklets we'd been given at Wednesday night's benefit concert and I wrote up the necessary on the sidewalk with chalk. Nancy's roommate had given her a medium-sized wooden elephant (with one tusk symbolically missing) for display purposes. It stood by the large plastic cup we had (instead of a hat this time) for donations.

We started drumming at about 9:30 p.m. and, within 20 minutes, we had made $14 and attracted a small audience of people who also drummed and wanted to join in. They never got to, though. The night's festivities were cut short by a woman came up to us and told us to stop playing because there are condominiums nearby and we were disturbing residents.

$27.25 (in approx. 45 minutes)!

Today there was an amplified band performing on Dundas Square (they were quite loud and would have drowned us out ... so instead of drum-busking there as planned, Nancy and I moved further up the street to the corner near "The World's Biggest Bookstore". It was a good spot. In approximately 45 minutes (from 6:45 - about 7:30 p.m.), we drummed up $27.25 for the Asian Elephants. One Asian girl and her mother even stopped and asked if we were thirsty and gave us bottles of water.
I had purchased some sidewalk chalk for the event and wrote out the information, drew an elephant mascot and a lucky flower around the hat. We placed Elephant cards (with information about the benefit concert we attended later tonight) around the hat with the money. Various interested people stopped and took cards, promising to come to the concert. Some stopped and read the chalk signs and dropped money. Some dropped money without knowing what it was all about. Some did not drop money, but did little shuffling dances as they walked past. Some laughed and smiled. Some stopped to listen. Some walked by without a glance. One woman blocked her ears and muttered: "Stop making so much noise."
The plight of the elephants is a sad one. At the jazz concert we were given 3-page booklets with information and stories about the elephants that have been rescued ... or not, as the case may be. There are parts of the booklet that we just could not read because the facts were so horrific and cruel. I won't bother to go into details ... but suffice it to say ... it is estimated that within 2 decades, these beautiful creatures could be extinct if things keep going the way they are.

If you haven't already, check out the website, learn more and donate to a worthy cause if you can. Every drop counts.

Saving Asian Elephants one drum at a time (edited with more info on benefit concert)

(Canada Chronicles continued ...)


Last night when I met up with two friends to go here, one of them, Nancy told me about a jazz concert a friend of hers has organised (for tonight) to raise funds on behalf of the Asian Elephants. We are going to the concert ... but we've decided that prior to that we will have a little concert of our own.

Weeks ago when we all first met, we had planned to go drum-busking in front of The Big Carrot. But last night we decided we would drum-busk this evening, before we attend the benefit concert for the Elephants (Information here). Instead of doing it in front of the Carrot, we'll drum in the Dundas Square area, where there is a lot more pedestrian traffic. It may end up being just two of us, but we've decided that whatever money we make (hopefully more than $1.91), will go toward the Asian Elephant fund.

(Nelly the Elephant will be proud).

Very interesting that drumming encourages 'community'. I just looked up elephant as a power animal and it means something similar: community, love, commitment, etc. (Read the link if you have the time/are interested).

The drum-busking will take place in the Dundas Square area starting at 6:00 p.m. Admission: free. Donations for the Elephants encouraged.

The jazz concert will take place at 720 Bathurst Street, South of Bloor, West side, downstairs. Admission: $20. (50% of proceeds go to the fund for the Elephants).

To find out more and donate online to the Asian Elephant fund, visit The Elephants' Umbrella Fund.

Picnic at Leslie Street Spit (with video)

Yesterday the weather was great: sunny and breezy. J and I walked seven hours (to and from) and had a picnic on the lakeside rocks at Leslie Street Spit. We were joined by several guests who also enjoyed the goodies.

Ordinary miracles today

(Canada Chronicles continued ...)

Even though I expressed this earlier this morning, I felt that it's not the post I want to leave up on my blog all day. In other words, it's not an ongoing feeling ... and not one I want to linger.

Then just now on my way to the grocery, I noticed this heart nestled in a mossy crack between two paving stones on the path ...

Then I got into the grocery and this song was playing. And I thought: These are the things I'll leave up.

ORDINARY MIRACLE

(Sarah McLachlan)

It’s not that usual when everything is beautiful
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

The sky knows when its time to snow
You don’t need to teach a seed to grow
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

Life is like a gift they say
Wrapped up for you everyday
Open up and find a way
To give some of your own

Isn’t it remarkable?
Like every time a raindrop falls
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

Birds in winter have their fling
And always make it home by spring
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

When you wake up everyday
Please don’t throw your dreams away
Hold them close to your heart
Cause we are all a part
Of the ordinary miracle

Ordinary miracle
Do you want to see a miracle?

Its seems so exceptional
Things just work out after all
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

The sun comes up and shines so bright
It disappears again at night
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

It’s just another ordinary miracle today

Hunting for treasure with Kelly and Nelly (with P.S.)

(P.S. 28-05-07 You can read Kikipotamus's version of our adventure here, with photos.)

As I write this, it is 9:59 a.m. ... late for me to get out of bed! Normally I am up and about by 6:00 or 6:30 a.m., regardless of the time I go to sleep. But after yesterday's ten hours of fun (eight of which were spent walking!) I knew I would sleep well ... and I did.

Yesterday was the first time I met up with fellow blogger, Kikipotamus the Hobo (Kelly), who came to Toronto by bus from Waterloo to spend the day. She is the one who sent me these great gifts the other day for being one of the winners of the treasure hunt on her blog.

Ironic, as our day turned out to be one big treasure hunt in itself! Kelly/Kikipotamus is one of those people who's willing to spontaneously do and enjoy anything.

In keeping with the labyrinth book she had sent me, we started the day by walking the labyrinth. This 'full circle' turned out to be one of the major themes of the day ... as every place in the city kept leading back to itself ... each time revealing something new.

After leaving the labyrinth, in trying to decide where to go next, I asked Kelly to suggest a random 'clue' which we could follow, to lead us to our next destination. She chose the colour purple ... which led us into the nearby church (maybe it should have led us to Alice Walker) which had the colour purple recurring within it. There was a little booklet with a treasure hunt featured on it ... leading us to search the church to find the objects depicted as clues on the pages. That was the beginning of the 'treasure hunt' theme of the day.

As we left the church, I created the next clue by choosing two elements: the number seven and the direction East. So ... we headed East and instinctively got onto a street car, not knowing where it would take us. We ended up in Kensington Market. There, as we stepped onto the beginning of the street (to enter the Market) we were met by a small art gallery type place whose name reflected the numerical part of the clue ... The Collective 7! (So heading East had led us to #7).

After exploring some more and stopping for something to eat at Temptations, we went looking for Contact photography exhibitions. Every location we found was closed ... so eventually, we practically gave up, realising that Contact just was not 'making contact' with us that day.

Time for another clue ... and it was Kikipotamus's turn to choose one. She said: "The number three" ... and I added a part two: "Fruit."

We instinctively headed in another direction, walking and talking. All of a sudden I saw one of the pink rectangular CONTACT signs stuck on the window of an antique shop which was actually open. We went in and found the exhibition. Lo and behold ... the first thing we saw at the entrance was ... three fruit! (Three apples). That one blew us away, as it was the strongest example so far of the clues 'working'!

For the final clue, I spun around in the street with my eyes closed and took a random shot which I showed to Kelly. Whatever she selected in the image would be the next clue. She chose a small dot in the upper left corner, which looked like a bird.

In keeping with the saying: "it's a bird, it's a plane ..." I then said that the next part of the clue would not be 'plane', but a word rhyming with plane. Some of the overhead wires in the shot had reminded me of train tracks ... so the clue became 'bird' and 'train'. I looked at my TTC subway map to see if there was a subway station with the name of a bird. And there was ... Finch! Did this mean we were to go to Finch?

In the end, as we had been walking for eight hours, we decided to not go to Finch, but to find somewhere to sit, rest our weary bodies and have a meal. As we sat and ate at a small outdoor cafe in Mirvish Village, three pigeons and some little birds came pecking nearby. It was then that Kikipotamus pointed out that these small birds are known in some parts as Finches! So that final clue turned out to be not Finch the station, but Finch the bird.

In all, there were many interesting treasures discovered throughout our adventure ... but it's hard to capture the full experience of such a fun, spontaneous day in words and explanations. The above only gives a basic outline.

Thanks for being such fantastic company for a fun day, Kikipotamus. It was great meeting up! May Nelly the Elephant* always guide you and yours along the path of great things in life.

* Toward the early night, as we grew tired, we had to rely on Nelly the Elephant to get us where we were going. Since childhood, Nelly the Elephant Squirts Water has been my way of remembering the cardinal points: N, E, S, W.

Puzzled

(Canada Chronicles continued ...)

The other day I was strolling through Trinity Bellwood Park and I noticed a whole set of puzzle pieces scattered all over the ground. They raised a few questions. Who had tossed them there and why? Or were they dropped in haste as the person ran to catch a tram? Had I seen this in Trinidad I would have assumed that the person had dropped the pieces as they fleed from an assailant. Was it an installation piece placed there by an artist who wanted members of the public to piece it together and form an image that s/he had created? And what is the image that's formed when all the pieces are put together?

Below is a puzzle I made from a photo I took of a flyer I saw on a lamp post. Try it out and see what it says:

Come Together (with video)

A friend of mine asked me to play a special prayer for her on my new drum. So today I went to a nearby field (full of dandelions, which I love) and stood among them to play the prayer. I put my digital camera on the ground under me and the drum, to record the prayer to send to her. No sooner had I started playing than I heard enthusiastic, excited little giggles behind me. It turned out to be two Chinese children ("Hannah", about 7 or 8 and "Kevin", about 6) who had left their mother and run across the field when they heard the drum. Lucky thing my camera was on, so I ended up recording what they started to do ...

Afterwards, I was putting the drum back into its backpack. The two children stood staring at me with fascination. Then Hannah proudly said: "We speak Chinese."

Me: So can you teach me to say something in Chinese?

Kevin: (says something in rapid Chinese)

Hannah: He says he doesn't want you to go.

Me: What does he want me to do?

Kevin: (says something in rapid Chinese)

Hannah: He says he wants you to stay.

Me: Stay and do what?

Kevin: (says something in rapid Chinese)

Hannah: He says he wants you to play your drum.

Me: Okay.

(I pull back out the drum and start to play and they start to dance. Less than one minute into the drumming/dancing ...).

Kevin: (says something in rapid Chinese)

Hannah: He says you can go home now.

Drumming in The Cave

Detail of one of the paintings on the wall at The Dance Cave

Last night I met Eyad and Traci, two of the three new friends I'd met at the drumming class (Nancy is away for the week so she couldn't join us). Last Tuesday we had planned to meet and go drumming outdoors with the drum circle, but due to rain and thunder, plans were aborted. This week (warm and bright weather) it was indoors at The Dance Cave.

Before it all begins ... chairs being set up in a circle for the drummers.

At one point I stopped and placed my camera on my drum head to keep it still for this shot with a very slow shutter speed (since the room was dark). Hence the people dancing in the centre are blurred to the point that they can't be seen.

Now you can see them, with use of the flash.

It was fun. The drumming sounded great at points and at other times, like a mass of noise. At one point it got so loud I couldn't hear myself think, much less drum. E, who goes all the time, had walked with ear plugs. T had forgotten hers. By the end of the night, after about two hours of drumming, my hands looked like a small bunch of ripe figs.

Drum busking duo takes Toronto by storm (includes video)

(Canada Chronicles continued ...)

Inspired by Muhtadi, working on the drumming documentary with Leda Serene Films (explore their website) and the various classes and drum circles/jams I've been experiencing, I couldn't resist purchasing my 'gift' of a new drum at Saikou's drum shop.

J gets a rhythm going

Yesterday was a public holiday (Vctoria Day). J and I went drumming high up on the steps leading to Casa Loma. It was a scenic, quiet spot (so that we would not disturb residential dwellers). The first person to give us audience was an old jazz drummer from New Orleans with a name I have since forgotten. He sat and watched as we drummed, took a picture of us and told us that he knew Saikou (where our drums are from), Muhtadi and also Bill Trotman from Trinidad. After he left, several tourists on their way up to the landmark paused and took in our renditions.

Our first 'donation' of $1 from an Oriental fan

Luckily I had my hat with me. I put it on the ground before us as we drummed. Several tourists (mainly enthusiastic Chinese? Japanese? people with cameras) stopped and took photos near to us or posing directly with us. We were like a tourism spectacle.

We gave thanks to our contributors with drum rolls.

Within one and a half hours of impressing new fans with varied drum patterns, we made $1.91 CAD (The equivalent of a little over $10TT). Not much in the grand scheme of things, but the excitement of getting any money at all in the hat was enough to make our day. We're saving that money to put in the hat next time we go drum-busking (in a busier area this time). When money is in the hat other people will be more encouraged to add to our 'busking bank'.

(Below: short video clip of the experience)

Abracadabra Moosey Habra!

Photo by J

(Canada Chronicles continued ...)

Yesterday I went walking in High Park with J and her dog Dusty. As soon as we found a place to settle in the grass ... voila! (Abracadabra Moosey Habra!) J pulled an amazing surprise picnic out of her bag: sliced Julie mango, Havarti herbal cheese, crackers, mixed salad, wholewheat pita, two dips for the vegetables (celery, carrots and cauliflower) ... and a matching set of plates, knives, forks and napkins. Dessert was pink wota and magic bubblegum with two flavours which gave us the power of laughter and the unique ability to communicate with llamas, bison, spotted deer and peacocks.

The weather station on TV says it is 6 degrees celsius today. Apparently that's cold for this time of year ... but at least it's sunny and clear. Today will definitely be another Abracadabra Moosey Habra day ... especially with my new 'gift' coming out to play!

When we were small, whenever we were doing magic (mainly me and my sister Kathryn. Can't recall if Vanessa used to do it with us) ... we would wave our hands in the air and exclaim: "Abracadabra Moosey Habraaaaaaaaaa!" to make the magic work. I don't know where we got the Moosey Habra from (I guess we made it up because it rhymed) ... but I think it gives magic a whole other dimension, from the power of childhood.